August 1, 2006

Panormaic Screen Showcases Children's Properties

NEW YORK-MB Productions (MBP), in conjunction with Tangram International Exhibitions, staged a 360-degree virtual set for HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of preschool entertainment, at the 26th Annuallnternational Licensing show, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York.

According to MB Productions President Brian Brooks, "The concept was to create a booth that had maximum visibility and high impact." Eight Digital Projection Highlite 5100gv projectors perched on top of a circular structure built above the booth produced eight individual nine-foot by 12-foot images that featured edited DVDs of Bob the

BuilderTM, BarneyTM, Thomas & FriendsTM, The WigglesTM and Angelina BallerinaTM. Each projector was fed via its own Silicon Opix Image Anyplace enabling MBP's lead projectionists Joe Mayers and Carlos Bohorquez to precisely maneuver all the images to fit the curvature contour of the screens.

To contend with the exhibition show lighting and create bright, even images, special consideration was given to the projection material that was utilized. MBP's Chief Engineer Ed D'Amico explains; "In venues with high ambient light levels, high contrast and bright images are difficult to achieve.

Hot-spotting and irregular diffusion, on the screen surface, are constant challenges. In our design we paid careful attention to projector angle and screen surface. That is why we selected a grey 1.5 gain rear projection surface."

After the projection material was stretched and secured onto a pair of circular trusses, the 32-foot diameter structure was elevated twenty feet off the show floor via six half-ton chain motors. MBP, along with Bestek Lighting and Staging completed the installation. HIT Entertainment's booth was an instant"hit"with visitors that came from across the world to attend the show.